[gearhead396]

Ok guys I've been in to guns my whole life ,and since I was 18 years old I've been buying handguns and a few rifles here and there but I don't have a hunting rifle just a 22 and a 12g and 16g shotgun my question is what's a good deer and pig rifle I'm gonna use it for both any suggestions?

[ryanusmc24]

I've been hunting 4 years and I'm 16 now. I know you might think I'm ignorant because I'm young and play call of duty but I do know a lot about guns. In the four years I've hunted I've killed three deer all with the same gun which is a .243. It's only taken one shot each deer and the most they ran was about 40 yards. A .243 is about the lowest you want to go, but if you don't want to ruin all of the meat then you don't want to go much higher. A 308 is the highest I would go for deer but still that's going to blow the arms of a deer but it will surely do the job. You can get a .243 at a good price. My dad has had the one I hunt with since he was 13 and it still is as good as the day he got it.

[bigdaddy573]

The only time you really loose meat is when you get in to the magnums i love hunting with a 30-06 but your 12 ga with slugs will be just fine out to 50 yrds or so

[Marlinman]

Originally Posted by bigdaddy573

The only time you really loose meat is when you get in to the magnums i love hunting with a 30-06 but your 12 ga with slugs will be just fine out to 50 yrds or so

Doesn't matter what you shoot em w you ruin meat if you hit the shoulders. Only place you can hit a deer and not ruin anything is the head or ribs. 243 is good but you have to be really careful of shot placement. 308 is good as well.

[gearhead396]

I'm looking at the mossberg 308 100atr with a scope for 370 plus tax any experience or thoughts with this weapon?

[Marlinman]

Originally Posted by gearhead396

I'm looking at the mossberg 308 100atr with a scope for 370 plus tax any experience or thoughts with this weapon?

Good gun. Marlin x7s in 308 is a great gun....better IMO. Only thing is they dont come brand new w a scope.

[TLuker]

.308 is great for deer and as mentioned by ryanusmc24 so is the .243. I think a 7mm-08 would be worth serious consideration as well? Any of those would fill the freezer with no problem.

[AsSeenOnTV]

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[brasskicker]

30-06 is always a good choice in case you get the opportunity to hunt something else later. That way you won't have to buy a new gun unless you go to Africa or something. I have never hunted hogs but 30-06 might be overkill. .257 30-30win or .35rem would be other calibers to consider. All of these are around the middle of the firepower spectrum of the calibers for deer. I was once told that .35 Remington is the perfect amount of power for deer and is the best whitetail caliber ever made. Dont ask me why that's just what he told me.

[gearhead396]

I live in texas my friend just acquired a 1000 acre ranch with game fences. I'm pretty sure I can shoot whatever I want he uses a 308 as well. He actually suggested the mossberg to me. I'm going to buy one on Black Friday hoping ill get a better deal. So I guess now I need to decide 30-06 or 308?